#LifeHacks from our Proud Family of Stores

Tag: healthy grilling

This may be overstating it just a bit, but the almighty Burger is a canvas upon which we can paint a million masterpieces. It’s real glory isn’t hidden within the patty itself, and it’s certainly not the bun. Look instead towards the creativity with which we pile on the fixin’s. That’s why we call them fixin’s. Because it’s broke without them.

Veggie burgers are a simple staple in my kitchen, but I make sure to never do it quite the same way twice. There’s an infinite array of condiment combinations to conquer. I think of the patty as an especially mighty and palatial throne for Cheese. There’s no place it sits more formidably, and even the plainest of yellow floppy cheese product appears noble and kingly when melted over the edge.

You’ve probably seen the growing variety of frozen patties in our stores from Morningstar, Boca and Garden Burger. There is another way, because it only takes a couple of minutes to make your own from scratch. Plus, the home-made variety are less expensive and you can really customize them.

This Black Bean patty recipe is a starting point. Don’t be afraid to bypass my recommendations for fixin’s and construct your own monument to flavor.

The better burger building blocks

Ingredients – Burger Patties

1/2 medium yellow onion, chopped

1 Tbsp. chopped garlic

2 (15 oz.) cans Full Circle black beans, rinsed and drained

2 Tbsp. fresh chopped parsley

1 Egg

1/2 Tbsp. cumin

1/2 Cup bread crumbs

1 tsp. chili powder

Salt and pepper to taste

1 Tbsp. Olive Oil

Tools

Parchment or wax paper, cut into (4) 6″ squares.

Blender or food processor

The Fixin’s

Buns – big, fresh kaiser rolls

Mayo

Cheese – pepperjack or habanero jack

Tomato – fresh and ripe, sliced

Avocado – fresh and ripe

BBQ sauce – Famous Dave’s Devil’s Spit

Iceberg lettuce

Pickles – sliced, deli style

Pretentious olive on a self-important toothpick

Step 1: Heat it up.

Spray a large, flat pan with olive oil and heat to medium-low on the stovetop.

Blend your batch of burger mortar.

Step 2: Spin those beans.

Place the onion and garlic in a food processor and pulse until they’re nice and fine. Add egg, parsley, cumin, chili powder, and half of the black beans. Pulse to thoroughly combine, taking care not overdo it.

Mix the blended portion of the mix with the rest of the ingredients.

Step 3: Mush! Mush!

In a large mixing bowl, transfer the blender contents. Add the remaining black beans and bread crumbs, then salt and pepper to taste. Mix and fold the ingredients together, but don’t go crazy. You want a good portion of the beans intact to give the patties structure.

Use the parchment paper to make burger flipping easy.

Step 4: Patty Time.

Lightly spray your parchment or wax paper with oil to prevent sticking. Place 1/4 of your mixture on each sheet and form it into patties. The sheets will make it easy to transfer your patties to the pre-heated pan, face-down. Cook about 6 minutes on each side, letting them brown and firm up. About a minute before the patties are done cooking, toast the buns in the pan.

These black beans burgers are a perfect staple for all your great summer grilling efforts. Use this as a base and experiment with different ingredients.

Ingredients

Ingredients

* ½ medium yellow onion, chopped

* 1 Tbsp. chopped garlic

* 2 (15 oz.) cans Full Circle black beans, rinsed and drained

* 2 Tbsp. fresh chopped parsley

* 1 Egg

* ½ Cup Bread crumbs

* ½ Tbsp. cumin

* 1 tsp. chili powder

* Salt and pepper to taste

* 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil

Gear

* Parchment or wax paper, cut into (4) 6" squares.

* Blender or food processor

The Fixin's

* Buns - big, fresh kaiser rolls

* Mayo

* Cheese - pepperjack or habanero jack

* Tomato - fresh and ripe, sliced

* Avocado - fresh and ripe

* BBQ sauce - Famous Dave's Devil's Spit

* Iceberg lettuce

* Pickles - sliced, deli style

* Pretentious olive on a self-important toothpick

Instructions

Step 1: Heat it up. Spray a large, flat pan with olive oil and heat to medium-low on the stovetop.

Step 2: Spin those beans. Place the onion and garlic in a food processor and pulse until they're nice and fine. Add egg, parsley, cumin, chili powder, and half of the black beans. Pulse to thoroughly combine, taking care not overdo it.

Step 3: Mush! Mush! In a large mixing bowl, transfer the blender contents. Add the remaining black beans and bread crumbs, then salt and pepper to taste. Mix and fold the ingredients together, but don't go crazy. You want a good portion of the beans intact to give the patties structure.

Step 4: Patty Time. Lightly spray your parchment or wax paper with oil to prevent sticking. Place ¼ of your mixture on each sheet and form it into patties. The sheets will make it easy to transfer your patties to the pre-heated pan, face-down. Cook about 6 minutes on each side, letting them brown and firm up.